U.S. patent application number 11/642169 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for adjustable rail light mount.
This patent application is currently assigned to Prezine, LLC a limited liability company of FL. Invention is credited to Matthew E. McKendrick, William H. Rogers.
Application Number | 20080148619 11/642169 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39540873 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080148619 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rogers; William H. ; et
al. |
June 26, 2008 |
Adjustable rail light mount
Abstract
An adjustable and removable rail light mount for attachment to a
firearm having a mounting rail includes a rail mount attached to a
rail and a light carrier rotatably attached to the rail mount to
position a light to the left or right of a firearm by way of an
axle carried by the rail mount. The axle fits through the rail
mount and the light carrier. Passageways in the rail mount and the
light carrier for the axle include grooves that engage detent
bosses on the axle to maintain the light carrier in the selected
location. Light carrier is removable when it is rotated to a
centered downward position.
Inventors: |
Rogers; William H.; (St.
Augustine, FL) ; McKendrick; Matthew E.;
(Jacksonville, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARTHUR G. YEAGER, P.A.
245-1 EAST ADAMS STREET
JACKSONVILLE
FL
32202-3336
US
|
Assignee: |
Prezine, LLC a limited liability
company of FL
|
Family ID: |
39540873 |
Appl. No.: |
11/642169 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20130101; F41G
11/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/90 |
International
Class: |
F41A 35/00 20060101
F41A035/00 |
Claims
1. An adjustable rail light mount for removable attachment to a
firearm having a: mounting rail comprising: a rail mount removably
attached to a rail of such firearm; a light carrier adapted for
supporting a light attachable to said rail mount; an axle member
affixed to said rail mount; said carrier having a passageway for
receiving a portion of said axle therein for rotatably mounting
said carrier to said rail mount; a pair of cooperating engaging
members located between said axle and said passageway in said
carrier for securing said carrier in at least one position to
locate a light carried by said carrier on at least one side of such
firearm.
2. The mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail mount includes
a pair of spaced subtending flanges each having a longitudinal
passageway therethrough, said flanges defining an interior mounting
notch therebetween, said passageways being aligned with a common
longitudinal axis, said light carrier including an upstanding post
member having a body and a longitudinal passageway therethrough
aligned with said common axis, said axle being mounted through said
passageways in said flanges and said passageway in said post
member.
3. The mount as defined in claim 2 wherein said cooperating
engaging members includes spaced first engaging elements formed in
said passageway in said post member, and spaced second engaging
elements formed on said axle, said first and second engaging
elements cooperating to lock said second mounting member in a first
position to locate a carried light on the left side of such firearm
and a second position to locate a carried light on the right side
of such firearm.
4. The mount as defined in claim 2 wherein said engaging members
include spaced third engaging elements in said passageways in said
flanges cooperating with said second engaging elements to secure
said axle therein.
5. The mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said axle member
includes a tapered end portion press fit into a passageway in said
rail mount.
6. The mount as defined in claim 2 wherein said light carrier
includes stop means for engaging a portion of a rail on such
firearm to inhibit forward movement of said mount when said light
carrier is in said first or second position.
7. The mount as defined in claim 2 wherein said first engaging
elements are formed as a plurality of longitudinal grooves, said
second engaging elements are formed as a plurality of longitudinal
bosses, each said boss located in one said groove.
8. The mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail mount includes
a channel member for attaching said rail mount to a rail of such
firearm.
9. The mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said light carrier
includes a hollow body for supporting a light, said body having a
generally cylindrical shape and includes a forwardly disposed
portion for protecting a light from muzzle blast when such firearm
is fired.
10. The mount as defined in claim 1 further including a belt clip
including a hollow body sized to locate said light carrier in said
body of said clip, an arm member extending from said body of said
clip for removably attaching said belt clip to a belt of a user
when said rail mount is removed from a firearm.
11. An adjustable rail light mount for removable attachment to a
firearm having a mounting rail with a notch therein comprising: a
rail mount removably attached to such rail; a light carrier
rotatably attached to said rail mount for movement between three
spaced positions; said rail mount including a pair of spaced
subtending flanges each having a longitudinal passageway
therethrough, said flanges defining an interior mounting space
therebetween; said light carrier including an upstanding post
member having a body and a longitudinal passageway therethrough
aligned with said passageways of said flanges; said post member
being located in said space in said rail mount; an axle mounted
through said passageways in said flanges; and said passageway in
said post member for rotatably mounting said light carrier to said
rail mount.
12. The mount as defined in claim 11 wherein said post member
includes spaced first engaging elements formed in a portion of said
carrier body, said axle including a member having spaced second
engaging elements, said first and second engaging elements
cooperating to lock said light carrier in a first position to
locate a light carried by said light carrier on the left side of
such firearm and a second position to locate a light carried by
said light carrier on the right side of such firearm.
13. The mount as defined in claim 12 wherein said passageways in
said flanges include spaced third engaging elements cooperating
with said second engaging elements to secure said axle therein.
14. The mount as defined in claim 13 wherein said axle includes a
tapered end portion press fit into said passageways in said
flanges.
15. The mount as defined in claim 11 wherein said rail mount
includes a channel member for attaching said rail mount to such
rail of a firearm.
16. The mount as defined in claim 11 wherein said light carrier
includes a hollow body for carrying a light therein; and a fastener
for securing a light in said hollow body.
17. The mount as defined in claim 16 wherein said body is generally
cylindrical in shape.
18. The mount as defined in claim 12 wherein said light carrier
includes stop means for engaging such rail notch of said rail to
inhibit forward movement of said rail light mount when said light
carrier is in said first or second position.
19. The mount as defined in claim 12 wherein said first engaging
elements include a plurality of longitudinal grooves, said second
engaging elements include a plurality of longitudinal bosses, each
said boss being located in one said groove.
20. The mount as defined in claim 11 further including a belt clip
including a hollow body sized to locate said light carrier in said
body of said clip, an arm member extending from said body of said
clip for removably attaching said belt clip to a belt of a user
when said rail mount is removed from a firearm.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to mounting devices for lights
attached to a firearm and particularly to adjustable positioning of
rail-mounted lights on a firearm.
[0006] 2. Related Art
[0007] Historically, it has been difficult for even skilled
marksmen to coordinate a hand held flashlight with a firearm at
night. The modern two handed handgun shooting technique requires
the support hand to wrap around the hand which controls the firing
of the weapon in order to substantially control the weapon during
firing. The user must relinquish some control of the handgun if the
support hand is used to hold or even switch on and off a light
while firing. In recent years the industry has improved upon this
skill by incorporating a mounting rail with locking indentions,
into the frame of the firearm, inline with and just below the
barrel of the firearm. A specially designed light module is
attached to the firearm using the integral mounting rail on the
firearm. The light module is secured to the firearm's mounting rail
just forward of the front of the trigger guard on pistols and near
the front of the hand guard or fore stock of shoulder firearms. A
light pressure switch is mounted to the grip of the firearm in some
designs and in other designs the switches are incorporated into the
light module itself. In the later designs, the light modules have
momentary and on/off toggle switches incorporated into the rear of
such modules. These switches are operated usually with the support
hand and must be ambidextrous in design. The toggle type switches
require practice and training in order for someone to become
proficient with the module while firing the firearm at night while
maintaining control of the firearm. In the above referenced
designs, the light module is relatively expensive and in some
cases, costs near the cost of the firearm. In most designs, the
installation and removal of the light unit is not user friendly and
a majority of the users dedicate the light module to the firearm. A
specially designed holster is then required to fit the firearm with
light attached. Common sense and proper training would prevent the
user from using the dedicated light in a no risk illumination
scenario and therefore a secondary flashlight is required for such
uses. The substantial disadvantages of the prior art device require
a new approach.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an
adjustable rail light mount for removable attachment to a firearm
having a mounting rail with a notch therein comprising: a rail
mount removably attached to a rail of such firearm; a light carrier
adapted for supporting a light attachable to the rail mount; an
axle member affixed to the rail mount; said carrier having a
passageway for receiving a portion of the axle therein for
rotatably mounting the carrier to the rail mount; and a pair of
cooperating engaging members located between the axle and the
passageway in the carrier for securing the carrier in at least one
position to locate a light carried by the carrier on at least one
side of such firearm. The rail mount includes a pair of spaced
subtending flanges each having a longitudinal passageway
therethrough, the flanges defining an interior mounting notch
therebetween, the passageways being aligned with a common
longitudinal axis. The light carrier includes an upstanding post
member having a body and a longitudinal passageway therethrough
aligned with the common axis, the axle being mounted through the
passageways in the flanges and the passageway in the post member.
The cooperating engaging members includes spaced first engaging
elements formed in the passageway in the post member, and spaced
second engaging elements formed on the axle, the first and second
engaging elements cooperating to lock the second mounting member in
a first position to locate a carried light on the left side of such
firearm and a second position to locate a carried light on the
right side of such firearm. The engaging members include spaced
third engaging elements in the passageways in the flanges
cooperating with the second engaging elements to secure the axle
therein. The light carrier includes stop means for engaging a
portion of a rail on such firearm to inhibit forward movement of
the mount when the light carrier is in the first or second
position. The first engaging elements are formed as a plurality of
longitudinal grooves, the second engaging elements are formed as a
plurality of longitudinal bosses, each said boss located in one
groove. The rail mount also includes a channel member for attaching
the rail mount to a rail of such firearm. The light carrier
includes a hollow body for supporting a light having a generally
cylindrical shape. Also included is a belt clip including a hollow
body sized to locate the light carrier in the body of the clip, an
arm member extending from the body of the clip for removably
attaching the belt clip to a belt of a user when the rail mount is
removed from a firearm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0009] The novel features believed to be characteristic of this
invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and
method of operation, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm carrying the
adjustable rail light mount in accord with the present invention in
a left position for a right hand grip;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates the mount of FIG. 1 in a right position
for a left hand grip;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates the mount of FIG. 1 in a center
position;
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates the installation of the mount of FIG.
1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is and exploded view of the mount of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIGS. 6-9 are various views of the mount of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the rotational component of FIG.
5;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a cross-section of the rotational component of
the mount of FIG. 10;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rotational component of
FIGS. 5 and 10-11;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a side view of the rotational component of FIG.
12;
[0020] FIGS. 14-20 are various views of the body of the rail mount
in accord with the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 21-26 are various views of the rail mount of FIGS. 6-9
shown installed on a standard Picatinny rail.
[0022] FIGS. 27-32 are various views of the locking axle of FIG.
5;
[0023] FIG. 33 is a partial cross-section of the mount of FIG. 1
showing the locking tab disengaged in the center portion;
[0024] FIG. 34 is a partial cross-section of the locking tab of
FIG. 33 engaged when the light carrier is rotated to the right
position;
[0025] FIGS. 35-36 are perspective views of the mount of FIG. 1
with a belt clip in accord with the present invention;
[0026] FIGS. 37-39 are various views of the belt clip of FIGS.
35-36 in greater detail;
[0027] FIGS. 40-42 are various views of a light carried by the belt
clip of FIGS. 37-39; and
[0028] FIG. 43 is a pictorial view of the mounted light of 35-39
being operated by the user's hands.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Objective
[0029] The present invention is directed toward an inexpensive
device that can use a simple end cap, push button switch operated
flashlight such as the Coast "Tac Torch". The Tac Torch or
similarly designed light is first adjusted and locked into place.
Then the device with light installed is easily and quickly slipped
onto the integral mounting rails of the firearm. The unit is
secured in place by rotating the light either to the right or left
side of the frame of the firearm. A right hand shooter, using a
modern two handed shooting technique, would position the light to
the left of the frame and vice versa for a left handed shooter. The
device, after adjustment, would align the end cap switch of the
light such that it can be operated by the thumb of the support hand
without affecting the necessary two handed grip. The shooter can
engage the push button for momentary illumination or can depress it
all the way for the on position. The device can easily and quickly
be removed from the firearm so that in cases where it is used with
a handgun, the handgun can be quickly reholstered in a standard
holster. Because of the simple nature of the device, the operator
could use the detached device as a standard flashlight, eliminating
the need of having to carry a second light. A further design
objective of this invention is the incorporation of a simple belt
clip to the device itself so that it can be easily stored on the
user's belt when it is detached from the firearm.
Introduction
[0030] The adjustable rail light mount is composed of two main
components. One component secures the small cylindrical flashlight
and the second component mates to the integral rail portion of the
frame of a handgun or the fore grip of a shoulder firearm. The two
components cooperate via an extended arm adjacent the light
component and held to the frame mating component by a pivoting
axle. The axle has one or more small lobes or detent bosses that
match indentions in the receiver portion of the light component so
that the light can be indexed in position. A locking tab is
incorporated on either side of the extended arm of the light
component in such a way that when the light component is pivoted in
full position to the right or left, the locking tab is aligned with
a locking slot provided by the firearm. This secures the device on
the firearm so that it cannot come off during use. Through the use
of a frictional lock, the light component is held in position to
the right or the left in such a way to align the push button switch
with the user's support thumb. The light can be adjusted fore and
aft in the light component so that the user can activate the push
switch by the support hand thumb without disturbing the modern two
handed shooting technique. An added feature is a belt clip
incorporated into the light component so that it can be easily
stored on the user's belt when the mount and/or light is detached
from the firearm.
Construction
[0031] With respect now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the
adjustable rail light mount 10 in accord with the present invention
and is shown rotated and locked to the left for a right hand grip
(FIG. 1); rotated and locked to the right for a left hand grip
(FIG. 2); and a releasable center position below the gun (FIG.
3).
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates the light mount 10 being installed on a
firearm 11 having a standard integral rail portion 12 as understood
in the art.
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates the components of the rail light mount. A
conventional flashlight frictionally carried in rotatable light
mount 14 and is secured into place by tightening screw 13. The
light mount rail body 16 engages a rail 12 having a rail slot 12A
and cooperates with a locking axle 17 for selectively rotatably
connecting a light mount 14 to rail body 16, as will be discussed
more fully hereinafter.
[0034] Light carrier 14 (FIGS. 6-13) includes a cylindrical body 18
having a interior space 19 to slidably mount light 15. Inwardly
directed flange 20 limits forward movement of light in body 18.
Flanges 24 and 24A are spacedly opposed and respectively have a
passage 21 and aligned threaded passage 21 A through which screw 13
extends and tightens light carrier 14 around light 15.
[0035] A laterally extending post portion 22 includes a passageway
23 with axis 23A therethrough for receiving locking axle 17 which
is secured to body 16. Post portion 22 includes front and rear
surface 34, 35 respectively.
[0036] Rail body 16 (FIGS. 14-20) includes an arcuate opening 36
for selectively receiving either of flanges 33 therethrough into
rail slot 12A. A space 27 defined between subtending flanges 26 has
respective interior surface 26A both aligned around axis 23B. Post
22 closely fits within space 27 and is rotatable to three positions
(FIGS. 1-3). Body 16 includes a rail channel 40 defined by walls 38
and bottom 39 that works with all standard pistol or Picatinny
rails (see FIG. 18 and enlarged portion in FIG. 20). Rear surfaces
43 of body 16 are formed to rest against most trigger guards (FIG.
16).
[0037] Grooves 41 in rail body 16 are aligned and cooperate with
grooves 37 in body 18 for selectively positioning mount 14 as shown
in FIGS. 1-3.
[0038] FIGS. 21-26 illustrate the mount 14 and rail body 16
connected together and mounted on a standard rifle Picatinny rail
42.
[0039] FIGS. 27-32 illustrate locking axle 17 having an elongated
body 30 with a front portion 44 and a rear portion 45. Front
portion 44 includes an arcuate surface 46. The locking tab 29 has
an inclined surface 47 that is undercut or flush with rear surfaces
43 of rail mount 16 so as not to interfere with contact with the
trigger guard. Three detent bosses 48 extend substantially the
length of body 30. A rear detent boss 49 extends outwardly a
greater distance than bosses 48 and the bottom groove 41 is deeper
than the other grooves 41 to accommodate boss 49.
[0040] FIG. 33 illustrates the release position for the rail mount
in that rail locking tab 33 is not engaged in slot 36 and rail slot
12A. When the light mount 10 is in a down center position, the
mount 10 may be easily and rapidly removed from the firearm 11.
[0041] FIG. 34 illustrates rail locking tab 33 extending through
slot 36 and into rail slot 12A when the mount 10 is rotated to
place rotational light carrier 14 on the right side. When moved to
the left the other tab 22 also will fit into slot 36 and slot 12A.
In both cases, the mount 10 is held in a manner to prevent forward
or rearward movement of the mount 10 with respect to the
firearm.
[0042] The rotation of carrier 14 causes detent bosses 48 to move
in aligned grooves 37 and 41 when carrier 14 is rotated and lock
carrier 14 in a selected position. Locking tab 29 fits within walls
26B (FIG. 15).
Operation
[0043] The light mount 10 is assembled as shown in FIG. 5. Locking
axle 17 is installed by having a tapered end portion 49 being press
fit into rear passageway 26A in rail mount in rail mount 16 after
the upper portion of light carrier 14 is placed in the space 27 of
body 16 to align both axes 23A and 23B. Light 15 is inserted into
carrier 14 either before or after the installation of light carrier
14 into rail mount 16. Screw 13 moves flanges 24 toward each other
to frictionally engage a light 15 at a desired location and to
dispose the light switch at the desired location as shown in FIG.
43. Rail body 16 is then slipped onto rail mount 12 (FIG. 4) or 42
(FIGS. 21-26).
[0044] Carrier 14 can then be rotated to either the right or left
with a locking tab 33 preventing mount 10 from moving forward when
light operating button 32 is depressed by a user. The mount 10 can
be moved to the down center position for quick removal if
desired.
[0045] As discussed hereinabove, mount 10 is easily installed or
removed form gun rail 12, 42. FIGS. 35-39 illustrate a belt clip 50
employed to carry the mount 10 when it has been removed from a
firearm 11.
[0046] Clip 50 includes a cylindrical body member 51 that can be
compressed via a screw 52 through a passageway 53 and a threaded
passageway 54 as well understood in the art. Integral arm member 55
includes a curved end portion 56 to engage a belt in the space
between the top portion 57 of body 51 and the underside surface of
arm member 55.
[0047] FIGS. 40-42 illustrates the versatility of clip 50 being
attached to a representative flashlight 15 not mounted in a carrier
14.
[0048] FIG. 43 illustrates the use of the light mount of FIGS. 1-34
carrying belt clip 50. The relative dimensions and positioning of
clip 50, light 15 and carrier 14 may be varied on the desires of
the user. This also shows the positioning of the trigger hand and
other hand of the user in operating the light switch and pulling
the trigger in a two-handed stance of the user.
[0049] While the invention has been described with respect to
certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many
modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended,
therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *